Colleen Hammond

Ms. Hammond graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fines Arts and received her BFA from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an art educator and currently teaches for The Saturday Arts Lab, part of the Division of Continuing Studies at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She currently resides in Moorestown, NJ where she was born and raised where she lives with her husband Stephen, and son Noah.

My art education began in high school and continues to this very day. As an art educator I have rediscovered an immediate and uninhibited instinct. Often my students are the teacher, and my goal to challenge and inspire them is handed back to me in the process. My work would fit the description of realistic, yet it is in the actual act of painting that I inevitably am taken beyond a mere description of what I see. The paint itself, color, and the glossary of artistic language are what inspire me and elicit a personal transformation in each work of art. I end up translating a spirit and mood that emanates through me from what I feel and see. Though I paint many different genres, a good friend whose love for film and especially old black & whites, has had an influence on my subject matter. The light, mood, and atmosphere dominant in this genre I find liberating and moving. Using old family photos has also been a source of inspiration for some recent work, it has provided me the opportunity to connect with family and friends and an inner voice.


Portfolio:

A Square Deal

The 8" square oil paintings are in A Square Deal collection. ASD’s mission is to make art more affordable and accessible and to demonstrate that it can be an integral part of everyone’s daily life; to broaden the artist’s exposure beyond gallery walls and website pages, and to encourage and support the visual arts by involving local non-profits in its production and display, and in turn having those organizations benefit from its sales. ASD was inspired by the Danish art collaborative 20/20 Visions.

The One Hundred Portrait Project

These tonal portraits were executed during my 2 year residency at Cheltenham Center for the Arts. "The One Hundred Portrait Project" consists of 5 inch square oil paintings executed between 2011 and 2012; using old family photographs, vintage snapshot finds from thrift stores & flea markets, as well as professional and nonprofessional images as reference.

Alexandra “Alexandra”

This portrait of a young woman was based on a photograph taken by New Jersey artist, Scott McKelvey and was used with permission.

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

And? “And?”

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

Autumn I “Autumn I”

"Autumn I" is an original oil painting executed in tonal variations to emphasize a sense of mood and story.

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

Auntumn II “Auntumn II”

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

Beach Wear “Beach Wear”

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

Becca “Becca”

This portrait of a young woman at a dress rehearsal for a play was based on a photograph taken by New Jersey artist, Scott McKelvey & was used with permission.

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

Caren “Caren”

5 x 5 inch

oil on panel

Chrissy “Chrissy”

My family album continues to be a source of reference for my paintings. This is one of my sister, Chrissy (1953 - 1987) as a young girl.
5 x 5 inch

oil on panel